As the Uchiha clan members steadily approached, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer hold back.
"Prepare!"
"Clang!"
The people Sarutobi Hiruzen had brought with him all readied their weapons.
Kunai, shuriken, long swords... all appeared in their hands.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sternly warned, "Uchiha, this is my final warning—fall back!"
"Tch!"
Uchiha Itsuki scoffed, forming a hand sign with both hands.
"Bang!"
Itsuki vanished and reappeared.
But!
As they looked at the newly appeared Itsuki, the Uchiha clan members were stunned.
Especially the older generation of Uchihas, their expressions were filled with excitement, even zeal.
At this moment, Itsuki was dressed in a tight black battle suit, layered with red armor on the outside.
On his back was the Uchiha clan's signature fan.
Uchiha Madara!
This attire was a spitting image of Uchiha Madara!
Many of the older members of the Uchiha clan began to softly call out, "Lord Madara!"
Back then, they had grown tired of fighting, so they abandoned Madara.
They believed that Madara was too obsessed with battle!
They had become weary and only wanted a peaceful life, which ultimately led to Madara leaving on his own.
But now!
After living through these years, they fully realized that Madara's choice wasn't wrong!
Moreover!
What stirred them the most was the immense power that Uchiha Madara had possessed.
It was the kind of strength that allowed him to capture tailed beasts as if they were mere chickens.
Uchiha Itsuki!
Uchiha Madara!
The two figures gradually overlapped in their minds.
Looking at Itsuki's upright stance, they seemed to see Uchiha Madara once again!
For Itsuki, though, this was a bit dull.
His attire was indeed a direct imitation of Uchiha Madara!
He didn't want to dress this way, but he had to admit that Uchiha Madara's image could significantly boost morale within the Uchiha clan.
And for enemies like Sarutobi Hiruzen, it could effectively crush their spirits.
Even though it was just Uchiha Itsuki donning Madara's armor and wielding his weapon...
The discerning eye could see that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku's expressions had shifted.
Especially Sarutobi Hiruzen—he had seen Uchiha Madara in person.
At this moment, Itsuki's appearance stirred deep memories within him.
A chilling sensation spread around his body.
"Little monkey!" Itsuki sneered at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Come, let's dance!"
"Hahaha!"
"Fire Style!"
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Amidst his maniacal laughter, Itsuki formed a hand sign.
"Boom!"
A massive fireball, hundreds of meters wide, blasted toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
That big?!
Seeing the fireball, which resembled a meteor, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind went blank.
He had only one thought: **This fireball is even bigger than a tailed beast!**
"Water Style!"
"Earth Style!"
"Wind Style!"
Seeing the enormous fireball, the Leaf Village ninjas were also stunned. They scrambled to counterattack with all their might.
But!
Itsuki had unleashed his full strength this time, easily overpowering all of their attacks.
"Ahh!"
A large number of Leaf Village ninjas were caught in the attack and died on the spot.
"Uchiha Itsuki!!!"
"How dare you actually attack?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared in fury.
Nara Shikaku, standing nearby, was speechless.
At this point, you can't still be holding onto some naïve idea, can you, Third Hokage?
Have you really grown old?
"Kill!"
With a deafening shout, the Uchiha ninjas hurled shuriken and kunai in unison.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Explosions rang out.
Every attack was accompanied by explosive tags—not just one or two, but at least five per strike, with no upper limit.
In an instant, another layer of Leaf Village ninjas was wiped out.
"No!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was both shocked and enraged.
The Leaf Village was in a vulnerable state of defense, and every ninja lost pained him deeply!
Moreover, from the beginning of the battle until now, they had made no progress.
"Go, kill them!"
He roared and charged at Uchiha Itsuki, forming hand signs with lightning speed.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itsuki merely responded with another Great Fireball Jutsu!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The massive fireball, hundreds of meters wide, shattered Sarutobi Hiruzen's Dragon Flame Jutsu and engulfed him along with many Leaf Village ninjas.
Some of the ninjas, including Sarutobi Hiruzen, turned into puffs of white smoke.
**Substitution Jutsu!**
**Shadow Clone Jutsu!**
But!
Some ninjas couldn't evade.
Another dozen Leaf Village ninjas died.
"So strong?"
Even Nara Shikaku was shocked.
He began forming hand signs rapidly.
No matter what, they couldn't let the Uchiha leave the village.
The Uchiha clan was Konoha's sharp blade, and if they defected, they might turn that blade against the village.
Even if they had to be killed, they must not be allowed to leave.
"Buzz!"
Nara Shikaku's shadow quietly crept toward Itsuki.
But just as he approached, Itsuki noticed him, turned his head, and smiled.
A chill ran down Nara Shikaku's spine, and he quickly used the Body Flicker Jutsu to move away.
"Boom!"
A ball of fire engulfed the area he had just been in, covering over twenty meters.
Had he not moved, he would surely have been injured.
"Quick reflexes!" Itsuki grinned. "Shikaku, do you like grilled venison? I like it a bit charred, with some crispiness."
"I'm not a fan."
A low voice from Sarutobi Hiruzen rang in Itsuki's ears.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Come forth, Monkey King Enma!"
"Bang!"
In a cloud of white smoke, the fierce-looking Enma appeared.
"Roar!!!"
He let out a roar and swung a powerful fist at Itsuki.
The punch was heavy enough to shatter boulders.
"Bang!"
Itsuki crossed his arms to block the attack, but the force still sent him staggering back.
Behind him, Sarutobi Hiruzen was waiting, ready to strike him down.
Itsuki suddenly opened his eyes, and his Sharingan spun with the three tomoe pattern.
"Bang!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's punch landed on Itsuki's chest.
"Success!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't even had time to celebrate before he noticed something—the figure of Itsuki had turned into countless snakes that coiled around him, baring their fangs gleaming in the sunlight.
"Genjutsu?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted.
"Enma!"
"Roar!!!"
Enma roared, sending a massive shockwave that broke Itsuki's illusion.
"Hmm, interesting!"
Itsuki, who was about to launch another attack, was forced to retreat, distancing himself from Enma.
That old monkey had impressive close-combat skills.
But Itsuki wasn't fond of close combat, even though he wasn't bad at it.
"Old monkey Enma, the so-called strongest summoning beast?"
Itsuki smiled slightly at Enma. "Honestly, I'm not too convinced."
"Hmph!" Enma snorted coldly. "I'll prove it with your corpse."
"Then let's give it a try."
Itsuki bit his thumb.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With Itsuki's summon, a massive figure appeared.
The crimson scales on its body shimmered in the sunlight, radiating a bloody aura.
(End of chapter)